Gautam Deb asked the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district administrations to suspend live performance at 12 bars with crooners

Siliguri, Sept. 7: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today asked the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district administrations to suspend live performance at 12 bars with crooners in and around Siliguri till October 28.

The order followed a meeting held in the presence of Siliguri MLA Rudranath Bhattacharya, senior civil and police officers, owners and employees of the bars with singers and the representatives of the Singing Bar Pratibad Mancha at the circuit house here this afternoon.

Deb said he had convened the meeting in the wake of an attack on a singing bar on Sevoke Road last week. A section of citizens under the banner of the Mancha had hit the street to demand the closure of the singing bars. They alleged that dancers performed in these bars illegally.

“I have ordered the suspension of all types of live performances, including singing, in these bars till October 28. Once the festivities are over, the order will be reviewed by the administrations of both the districts,” said the minister.

According to Deb, there are 37 singing bars in Calcutta where the total population is around 45 lakh. “Compared to Calcutta, 12 such bars are operated in and around Siliguri whose population is much less,” said Deb.

“While reviewing the suspension, officials need to consider this fact. There are reports that some singing bars are located within a 200-metre radius of religious establishments and educational institutions. I have told the officials to check if there is any violation of such norms. If any bar is located within that distance, it would be closed immediately.”

Deb also took a dig at the Mancha. “It is the responsibility of the administration, not individuals, to regulate activities in these bars. If individual or groups take law into their own hands, the government will not sit idle,” he said.

The members of the North Bengal Musical Bar Owners Association said they would follow the minister’s directive. “As the minister has instructed us to stop all kinds of live performance in our bars, we have no other option but to abide by it,” said Sarju Sharma, the vice-president of the association. “We are, however, apprehending that there will be a drop in our earnings. More than 1,600 people are employed by the 12 bars and we need to pay bonus and salaries ahead of the Puja.”

The employees, ranging from singers to waiters, gathered outside the meeting venue and raised slogans against the decision to suspend live performances at the liquor outlets. Aloke Chakraborty, the president of Darjeeling district Intuc, had attended the meeting. He had recently brought the bar employees under the banner of the Bar Singers and Musicians Association (BSMA).

“It is unfortunate that such a decision has been taken when Durga Puja is round the corner. It will affect the livelihood of the employees. We will soon sit together and decide on further course of action,” said Chakraborty.

-TT